Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Globalization may be its own worst enemy, driving a new trend of regionalization.

There are several very strong trends that are now in the process of reshaping the terrain of the global economy in a very unglobal way.

The first of these trends is the collapsing US dollar, which for the world's largest economy and importer, means that those imports, both of the completed product and the subcomponent nature are no longer quite so attractive. This is not across the board, of course, but it is a major acting factor. China is one of the few nations not directly affected by this because their currency devalues along with the dollar. However, due to the dollar evaluation, so far, most US businesses are facing a price increase (read inflation) of between 12-20%. Another major cut by the Fed will have catastrophic effects. While the short term effect for American business will be disastrous, because of the higher cost of parts and few or no local suppliers, a long term decline on the dollar will drive local suppliers to develop new capacities.

However, this is a centric trend, even if it is affecting the world's biggest economy. There are two other trends that are equally putting pressure for regionalization. The first of these mega, world trends, is the obvious price increase in oil and thus fuel oil used for sea bound transportation. As prices increase in the cost of moving goods to and from, local more expensive suppliers suddenly do not seem so expensive, as companies are steadily coming to grips with TCO. TCO is an acronym for Total Cost of Ownership, which is the full real price that one pays for a good. Earlier in the drive to outsource, most companies had a siloed approach to this, meaning they were looking only at the bottom line of the man-hours and or over head costs. The cost of transportation, port fees, import/export duties, quality issues, safety stock, geopolitical risk and even port facility capabilities were all ignored. Wisdom, at a high price in lost dollars, has at last prevailed and has found that the TCO often made those cheap cheap manufacturing prices not so cheap cheap. Indeed, not only the transportation fuel costs but also it's capacity has become a major issue, which blends into the other global trend: capacity.

Most people are aware that the ports are struggling to handle the amount of traffic coming and going and coupled with the cost of the various inspection regimes, has led to very long lead times and thus to a demand for much higher and more expensive safety stocks..aka inventories. However, what most people are not aware of is that the actual transport capacity has fallen far behind demand. It has already been reported that China has effectively locked in 80% of the super transport capacity for 2008, leaving the rest of the world with crumbs to fight over. Add to this the often 2 to 3 week wait periods at Chinese ports just to unload and the three to four year construction period for a new super transport and one quickly realizes how much of a real issue this is. Woe to the fact that demand is still growing much faster then new ship construction.

These two trends globally and the US centric trend all lead to regional suppliers in what was once the dieing rust belt of the West having one more shot at life. In America, with stagnant manufacturing wages and massive illegal employment (the social costs are carried by the very generous or naive and politically powerless US taxpayers), this becomes even a better proposition.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

So here I am in this position as a global sourcing manager and I've got news for you, a weak dollar is going to kill the American economy. What you say? How could that be? Why the Fed swears up and down that it's doing this to save the US economy.

Well the problem is, the Fed has built a house of cards over the years, with a massive creation of M3 (cash) flooding the world, very low interest rates and no regulation of lending along with low amounts of reserve cash at banks...all to create a perfect storm. Of course, for those who create the money (the private banking system called the Federal Reserve) this is a windfall that's moving your wealth to their pockets...suckers.

Now, back to this driving inflation thing and the weak dollar. As most people learned in the one or two economic classes they might actually have taken, a weak currency allows a nation to export more, especially finished goods. Alas, that's under normal circumstances and there is absolutely nothing normal about the modern American shamonomy. With most of the US' manufacturing base overseas there is little to either 1. export or 2. export that does not require at least some of the components to be manufactured globally and brought back to America.

Again, back to the sliding dollar and my suppliers. Well now, I've just gotten done with several supplier conferences and guess what: I've got suppliers from India to Indonesia, from Italy to Canada asking for price increases from 7-15%. Yup, ghouls and goblins (it is Halloween) this is called inflation, inflation driven by global manufacturing and the falling dollar. And while we here in what's left of American industry might still be able to fight off these full increases it should never be mistaken for what it is: a rear guard action and that's absolutely what it is, a fighting retreat just made worse by Mr. Bernanke and the interest knife he wields. Never mind how he'll compete for investments for Uncle Spend Like a Drunken Sailor's budget deficits when competing with much higher European and Japanese rates.

So boys and girls, ghasts and ghosts, while the shock might not be hitting you yet, just give it another 3 or so months and you'll definitely have a yule tide log...that'll cost you 15% more.

Friday, May 25, 2007

There exist two problems with one simple solution: a solution that would benefit both parties tremendously and would alleviate a worse future out come for both.

The first problem is that Russia has lots of land, a lot of empty agricultural land at that and a desire to not only grow its' population but also its' agricultural output. It would further rather not have this land exploited and its' population increased by the Chinese illegals streaming across the Russian borders.

America has a different problem. This is a problem of people, or rather of one class of people in particular. These are a new, unappreciated and unneeded people, as determined by American society. What ever the benefits to a nation of a class of successful small farmers, and there are many, the American progressive society has made a conscious decision to ditch them. To kick them to the curb, a throw away class from a throw away past by a throw away society. This is obvious by the growth of mega corporations, subsidized by government largess of tax payer funds. Since the late 1970s, over 300,000 small farms have failed and at an average of 5 members per household, that's 1.5 million people without their lively hood that they loved and cherished.

Thus the two problems beg a solution, a solution that is linked and limbered to each other as few others can be. With well over 1.5 million members of the farming class, in America, facing or experiencing failure or at best, just barely hanging on, Russia can offer an outlet of abundant land for these masses.

Several initiatives will make this possible. Russia should offer these farmers twenty acres a piece and allow them to buy more for hard cash, no loans. It should then attach with this a mandatory one year road to citizenship, free transportation of the farm equipment and animals from the US to Russia and a low interested fixed rate loan for building (where needed) a homestead and starting capital for the first year's season.

In exchange, these farmers will agree to several conditions and will in turn provide key benefits. The first issue is loyalty. To assure this, immigrants and their families will agree in writing to take up Russian citizenship within 1 year of arrival. Before immigration takes place, they will be given six months to learn a set minimum fluency in the Russian language and Russian history/culture.

The immigrants will further guarantee that each of their sons, upon reaching the legal age, will serve out the minimal term of enlistment in the Russian armed forces. Furthermore, the immigrants will provide classes weekly, to their adopted communities, on Western standards and science of agriculture. These will continue as long as there is a demand from the community.

Lastly, the immigrants will be required to donate 5% of their income to their adoptive communities for a period no longer then 15 years. This money may be given to the local established church, the village government, directly to thepoor or as an individually initiated and executed project that shows results within a 24 month period. The immigrant will have his choice of the above.

There are, undeniably, several hazards and drawbacks.

The primary issue is absorption into the main culture/society of Russia. To this end, immigrants should not be allowed to make up more then 5% of the population in any community. This will keep them permanently a minority and thus force absorption into the main stream culture within one or two generations. Similarly, the different religious background of most American immigrants (protestants and catholics) should also be tended to through education of the Orthodox faith and gentle missionary work by properly prepared clergy. The requirement for military service will also help ensure that the second generation is culturally and genetically absorbed, through a much greater chance of mixed marriages.

Issues of American historic territorial expansion, through colonization followed by land grabs (as seen in Texas, California, Colorado, Florida and Hawaii) will also be addressed by keeping the immigrants a minority and away from the eastern coastal regions.

Finally, any local jealousy over accusations of favoritism for immigrants, should be alleviated by the 5% required re investments and the classes given by the immigrants.

Once and if this program is a success, as this author predicts it will be, the gold mines of British, German, Italian, French dissatisfaction can be equally mined for new Western, Christian immigrants, whose absorption into the dominant Russian culture will help ensure Russia of remaining Russia and growing more prosperous.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

The name, ButovskiPoligon is synonymous with death. Here in the 30s Stalin's henchmen murdered over 20,000 people, at what was once a barracks area. Today, a new chapter opened and this chapter represents the new Russia, or rather the Old Russia reborn.

Across the street from these killing fields, today opened a cathedral who's original corner stone was placed by both the Patriarch Alex II of the Russian patriarchy of the Eastern Orthodox Church and by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia's ruling bishop. Today, on it's opening service, the two sister churches are now one, one Holy Orthodox Church of the Russian Patriarchy. Regardless of the CIA's best efforts to sabotage this union, the union has taken place and the Russian Church is now again represented in unity and fullness around the world.

In doing so, the Russian Church and in truth all of Orthodoxy stands stronger and fuller. Together the Russian Church, which is the largest of the Orthodox Patriarchies will once again function as the defender of Orthodox Christians and of all Christians from persecution, be it by atheists, Islamics or whom ever. Furthermore, the Church by its strong power over the Russian people and thus the Russian state, will have Russia's power behind it when it moves forward to protect persecuted Christians around the world.

Rejoice, for while the West, led by America, as a civilization has singularly betrayed Christianity and often sided with Islamics in destruction of small Christian groups, Russia, as leader of the Orthodox world, will now stand in the defense of these groups, as a counter to both the Humanist evil of the West and the Islamic Satanic evil of the Meccans.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Allow me to make my point firmly and right away: The Republic of Georgia can not be allowed to join NATO under any circumstance. Such a move would not only spell genocidal disaster for the Abkhaz, the South Ossessians and the Armenian minority of Georgia, it would not only move NATO into striking distance of key Russian oil assets, but it would open the door to jihadists in a way that has not been possible up to now and might quite literally lead to World War Three.

As we should remind any readers, mainly the Westerners who have no idea of the history of the region, that the US backed Georgians attempted to exterminate their minorities between 1991 and 1994. Two areas in particular, Abkhazia and South Ossessia. However, the Georgians have been rather lousy soldiers since for the past thousand plus years, accounting for why they've been over run by all of their neighbors. In all intents and purposes, they have lost those two regions, both of which wish to join the Russian Federation and are 90%+ Russian citizens.

In retaliation for this, the Orthodox Christian nation of Georgia has been busy not only looking the other way on Islamics heading for the Jihad in Chechnya, but providing visas and active support. More then two thirds of the foreign Islamics killed in southern Russia have had Georgian entry visas. Thus the immediate effects of Georgia joining NATO will be as follows: the Georgians will throw open the gates for Islamics (those who fight Russia or India or the Serbs are rarely listed as terrorists by D.C. and it's Farce on Terror. Often enough they are given material support and asylum in Washington or London.) who will flood in to destabilize the Russian southern regions. This will of course play into DC's and NATO's hands, as well as the Saudis, by not only deflecting Moscow's attentions away from Ukraine and Belarus and other centers of NATO/EU/DC imperialism, but also will work to damage Moscow's ability to fulfill oil and gas sales and thus Russia's GDP and stability. While Washington would never be able to control any Islamic states that would rise up out of the Caucasus, neither would Moscow. Washington dearly hopes that this will happen and will have a ripple affect dismembering Russia fully and once again opening up Russia's natural resources and human capital for plunder: a tactic as old as Rome, to which Washington is often compared.

As for the Georgian's despised large Armenian minority, the formula will be forced Georgianization or extermination. NATO, regardless of what propaganda about freedom or such it likes to put out, has no problems with mass exterminations. Not only did it oversee such genocides by it's Albanian clients in Yugoslavia's Kosovo, it also has no problems with blood stained Croatia's history of genocide, another NATO candidate. Of course NATO is also quite able to (and this includes the EU as well) to ignore the NAZI and SS parades in Estonia and Latvia, even when both are backed by the ruling governments and ministers who regularly make speeches at these occasions. America too, seems to be rather silent on this, with all it's human rights reports. Rather interesting, isn't it?

Following this will be the solving of Georgia's issues with the break away regions: Abkhazia and S.Ossessia. Of course this will be genocide of the Abkhaz and Ossessian populations, under NATO's nose...or rather with it's aid. This has been seen as the solution in Yugoslavia's Kosovo, who's natural resources and factories were stripped away from Belgrade and given to NATO nations companies. Of course the more likely effect will be an escalation and full war, as both of these regions are essentially Russian citizens. Furthermore, Russian Cossacks and other volunteers have flooded the region and the Abkhaz are crazed fighters to begin with. Northern Ossessians will also flood south to defend their ethnic and often times, clan-tie brothers. This will in turn draw the Russian army into direct confrontation with NATO member Georgia and thus the US, which will be treaty bound to go to nuclear war over Georgia.

The Solution is War

Russia must take several steps to deal with this, to avoid the dangers of total war with NATO or it's own eventual dissolution at the hands of Washington and Brussels.

In the least of these steps, Russia MUST recognize the independence of Abkhazia and S.Ossessia and allow them to instantly hold referendums to join the Russian Federation. As soon as their independence is recognized, Russian forces must be invited in to keep the Georgians out. Moscow must once and for all give up on the option of negotiations with the fascist, Washington/Brussels backed government in Tbilisi. There is no negotiations when the other side is incapable of seeing clearly or living in reality. Those of Saakasvhili's party who had the power and the ability to do this have long ago been murdered or purged. The opposition has been arrested and the intellectual class of Georgia is a long time Russians resident.

A Causa Bella must be declared, triggered by Georgia's entrance as a NATO Candidate. The Georgians, embodying the largest reserve of pride in the world, will of course only accelerate their move towards NATO as will the dictatorship in Azerbaijan. Thus as prewar playing field must be set up.

By its nature, any war in such circumstance must be fast, efficient and minimizing damage to the infrastructure and civilian population. Furthermore, certain players must be accounted for. Georgia has one natural ally in the area, Azerbaijan. It also has a pseudo backing of the Turks, who are not all to happy to see Russia again upon their borders. Both issues must be dealt with.

The Turks can be bought off by three major moves. First, for their neutrality, they will be awarded Ajaria and other immediate border regions. The Turks must be guaranteed a low cost of gas and oil, particularly that traveling through the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline and easy entry to Turkish goods into the Russian market. Without active Turkish support, NATO will be powerless to intervene effectively against a Russian blitzkrieg through Georgia and by necessary through northern Azerbaijan.

In order to further weaken Georgian resolve and forces and to strip them of support in depth from Azerbaijan, Armenia must enter the war. Armenia must be guaranteed territory belonging to Georgia where the Armenians are the majority. This will also include a section of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, from which they will be able to collect a transport fee and some of the oil and gas.

Azerbaijan must also be dealt with. To this effect Russia will require the aid of Iran. Iran has a long standing border and political dispute with Azerbaijan which has been actively agitating the Azerbaijani minorities within Iran. Thus Azerbaijan will be divided into three parts: the western parts will go to Armenia, the southern (the line running just south of Baku) to Iran and the northern to Russia.

But Moscow can not go into this proposition half ready. Upon the declaration of war, four Russian forces must move out and into combat. The coast of Georgia must be blockaded by the Black Sea fleet. A brigade of Russian marines must be brought in to capture Poti, at the very outset of hostilities. From Abkazia, a combined force of one mechanized and one armored divisions must drive south, first taking Zugdidi. A brigade strength unit must move down, first linking up with the marines at Poti and then moving out on the second day to secure Adjaria. The remainder of the Western task force must move out along Route 6 sweeping up Senaki and Kutaisi on the 2nd and 3rd day.

Task force Center, composed of a mechanized infantry brigade and an airborne division, will strike the center. The Brigade will take and occupy Gori and the surrounding area, cutting off Route 6 and any Georgian reinforcements moving west from Tbilisi. Meanwhile from the first declaration, the airborne division will take the high ground surrounding Tbilisi and lay siege to the city in order to stop any massing of troops or any logistical movements of Georgian defense forces.

Task Force East will comprise of a mechanized division and a mechanized brigade. Task Force East will seize Lagodekhi in the first hours of hostilities. The division will then move out to seize Telavi by the end of the first day. The brigade will move south to seize Tsnori and then on the following days to occupy Tsetili-Tsakora.The mechanized division will then proceed to move west over the following 2 days and occupy blocking positions from the south east of Tbilisi, slowly rolling up the Georgian capital from the south, while Airborne artillery and Russian airforce planes prevent any large groupings by the Georgian forces.

No later then by the 4th day, Task Group West must make contact with Task Force Center around Gori. After a one day pause and refit, it will move out and occupy positions on the NW edge of Tbilisi and begin rolling up the Georgian capital from that end. Operations in the capital must not take more then 4-6 days.

The key to all of these operations is speed and brutal force, coupled with broad opportunities for the enemy to surrender.

Armenian forces must also move out from the south occupying Bogdanovka, Kazreti and Akhalkalaki. Once Ajaria is taken, Russian forces can move back, allowing the Turkish army to roll in.

On the Azerbaijani front, Task Force Azerbaijani, consisting of two Task Forces Az West and AZ East, both composed of a Mechanized Division, one Armored Brigade and a Motorized Infantry Brigade.

AZ West will take Sheki on the first day. At least one battalion will be left to garrison the area and keep any Azeri forces in the nw corner locked up. The task force will then move out and strike Vartashan. Additionally, an airborne brigade will be dropped between Vartashan and Kutkashan, cutting lines of communication. AZ West will link up with the airborne brigade on day 2 and proceed to Kutkashan. The airborne brigade will then occupy Vartashan and Kutkashan. A second airborne brigade will be dropped in the Akhsu/Shemakha area. AZ West will link up with this brigade after taking Lagich, no later then by day 5. After taking one day for rest and reconsolidation, AZ West will strike out towards Karasu and Zardob, splitting its force in the process and meeting the Iranians on the Kura River.

AZ East will strike out down the coast, first at Nabran, then Khudat on the first day. On the second day it will take Khachmas and then link up with an airborne brigade between Khachmas, Divichi and Siazan, which will be deployed in the area to cut communications. The airborne brigade will then be divide up to garrison the area. AZ East must take Siazan no later then day 3. From there it will strike out for Sumgalt. A second airborne brigade will be deployed in the between Sumgalt and Shemakha, providing western security for AZ East. Upon taking Sumgalt, AZ East will spend one day, day 5, on rest and reconsolidation. On day 6 it will strike out towards Baku.

Two further Marine brigades will strike Kala on day 1, drawing Azerbaijani forces east and the second will strike Baku's ports on day 4, reinforced by a helicopter infantry (airlift) battalion and sea borne fire support. Major hostilities should be over within 10 days with mopping up taking the following 3-4 weeks.

Loving Conquerers

Several key steps must be taken in order to secure the surrender of enemy forces and population. The key is to strike hard enough to destroy all opposition but to equally give the Georgians and Azeri reasons not to fight or hold a long grudge, since they will be incorporated directly into the Russian Federation.

As such, all surrendering enemy forces must not only be well treated but guaranteed a speedy Russian citizenship (upon surrender they will turn in their Georgian/Azeri passports for Russian ones). They will be guaranteed full military pensions and a $1,000 bonus for surrendering and the first opportunity to fill police and security positions. The key is a speedy collapse of enemy forces before NATO can intervene or the EU can voice strong opposition.

Furthermore, stations must be set up where Georgians and Azari citizens can turn in their passports for Russian passports and receive 2 months worth of pensions (for the elderly) and the ability to travel into Russia. Furthermore, trucks with food must arrive quickly to prevent hunger for any displace peoples. Refugee camps must be set up on the Russian side of the border, accepting displaced persons and allowing them to travel to relatives inside of Russia. Repair crews must be ready to provide repairs for all major services. Furthermore, monies must be readied to pay for all war damaged houses, even if claims are some what doubtful.

Benefits of War

The immediate benefits will be the closing down of entry points for the Sunni Jihad inside of Russia. With Shiite Iran controlling entry from the east, secular Turkey in the west and Orthodox Christian Armenia in the south, guarding the borders. The removal of NATO/EU influence in the Caucasus will further lower tensions in the area, allowing for an easier development of the regions resources. The biggest local beneficiaries will be the local peoples, freed from the twin Western backed tyrannies in Tbilisi and Baku. Lastly, the threat of WW3 will be pushed back, as the West will be knocked out of the Great Game of the Caucasus and Russia's future on it's most vulnerable flank will be finally and fully secured.

Friday, May 11, 2007

What is Dryzhina? As in the ancient meaning of the term, it is a fellowship, a pan-eastern Slavic fellowship with the aim of forcing the reunification of our separated lands. Not since the Mongol invasions have the lands of the Russ suffered such weakness and humiliation as today.

The phase of Communism brought poverty to the lands of the Russ and just as before the Mongols, before the Communists, the Russ were well on their way to becoming the richest and most powerful lands and people of the world. As then, so as in 1917, our people's destiny was derailed and offset.

As with the Mongols as with the post Communist era, the lands of the Russ have been broken up, subdivided and turned against each other, all the while foreign heretic and pagan powers view for the resources and the life blood of the bickering Russ and their allied peoples. What took 400 years to rebuild was torn asunder, once again.

Yet, it is not to late. The Third Rome has not yet fallen. The anti-Christ not yet upon his throne. It is thus up to us to move forth, to force the reunion of the Holy Lands of the Russ, of the Third Rome, under one God given throne instead of the foreign owned and given politicos and their petty infighting.

Our brothers and sisters, mired in the fight for survival and bombarded by the constant Western supported and owned propaganda, are unable to see the high costs of their weakness. They are unable to fully appreciate its full and ruinous "glory".

As such, it is we the God fearing Diaspora who must push to educate our brothers and sisters to the Christian truth and dispel the Devil's shadow of propaganda. Only in unity of Russia, Ukraine, Trinester, Belarus, Abkhazia, S.Ossessia and Kazakhstan, can the Russ once more stand strong and independent, sovereign and truly God fearing. Only then, under the Throne of Christ and His given representative on the Throne of the Russ, can the Russ once more take up their God given task and responsibility to defend the True Christian Faith. Christians world wide have suffered horribly since 1917.

Join our organization and through grass roots actions to educate and protest the anti-Christian, anti-Russ actions of the West and through support for our brothers and sisters, we may, in the Name of Christ, return what is broken to a state of what is right.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

For the past 160 years, Russia has been more formidable in flinging her people from her borders then in bringing them back in. We now stand at a critical cross roads, wherethe opportunity, the chance for change and an escalation of Russia's potential is once again being allowed to float away like a branch on the swift current of history. Though at least in this case the government has actually made some noises about change....regrettably that is all they have been.

Through famines, wars and the years of Soviet repression, Russia finds itself with one of the largest Diasporas in the world. In America alone, there are an estimated 38 million people of Russian blood, birth or roots, a figure that has been growing since the 1840s. For the most part, this diaspora, especially the first generational ones, are highly educated and successful. Many are equally longing for a return to their motherland, this writer included. Even amongst those who are second or third and even fourth generation outside of Russia, there is an almost mystical connection and longing to know more about their ancestral lands. Many have even retained, to one degree or another, their language abilities.

This diaspora is critical to Russia on several major levels. To begin with, they are a critical source of support for Russia in the foreign circles and issues it finds itself in. If one observes the behavior of smaller states, such as the Greeks, Israelis or Armenians, for example, one notices that they enjoy a very strong and vocal support from their diaspora. This often translates into cultural ambassadorship that counteracts any local governmental propaganda. It further translates into action and pressure groups that push through beneficial relations between the host nation and these Diaspora's ancestral governments. Finally, they provide something that Russia is desperate for: money and talent.

Money comes in one of three forms: the diaspora likes to vacation back in the home land, especially where close relatives or strong former experiences are a major draw. Coming from richer nations and with more disposable income, they pump in hard currencies into the local economies. Secondly, the aged diaspora, often times with considerable amounts of monies saved up for retirement, like to return to their homelands to live out their days. While they may not produce, they do spend a lot.

Finally, and this is most critical to modern day Russia and the Putin drive to double the economy: the diaspora provides a ready source of business savvy professionals, many of whom are more then willing to immigrate back. Not only are they a major boost for the Russian business world and economy but often times they are willing to start their own businesses, thus furthering economic growth. A side benefit is the fact that many of the diaspora have more children then the local population on average, thus providing for the next generation.

With all of these advantages, what has the government of the Rodina done to further the Diaspora?

On the side of mobilizing the Diaspora, nothing really. The local Houston consulate, for example, does little to organize the vast Russian diaspora. Does little to spread the culture or the point of view, allowing many local Russians to be swayed by the likes of Berezovsky and other scoundrels. This lacking in establishing ties will further hurt the follow on generations who loose their connection with Russia.

On the front of travel: even worse. While earlier it was possible to get or keep a double citizenship, those doors closed effectively in 2004. So not only does Moscow discourage the diaspora from coming back easily and quickly, they make it even more difficult with constantly rising visa regimes and tariffs. Just because America is taxing Russians coming to the US more does not mean it is a good idea for Russia to tax incoming Americans, when the majority of those incoming Americans are actually Russians. Ties must be close and those Russian diaspora visiting Russia often are more apt not only to spend their monies in Russia but eventually the remainders of their lives too.

Furthermore, the artificial home/apartment ownership rates in Russia, coupled with the astronomical prices of apartment rental and the absolutely non-existent support of the Russian government, outside the provinces, for those wishing to return, has made it impossible for diaspora wishing to return to do so. From personal experience, as an work-experienced MBA professional, I can not afford to return to Russia, even though I and my wife both desire it. Why? Well, while there is some government support for those who wish to move to the Chinese border or the rural provinces, my professional expertise in supply chain/logistics dictates that I work in a major transport hub: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov, Vladivostok...and while a $3,000 salary in Moscow is an excellent salary for a Muscovite who is not bound by apartment rental payments, it is a poverty sentence to any diaspora who is forced to now pay $2,000+ for an 100sq meter apartment.

This cost of housing and the absolute lack of governmental support, dooms Russia to loose out on a major chance to bring in a rather large chunk of its diaspora.

What should be done?

There are several key steps and investments that Russia should take immediately that will pay huge dividends in the long run.

1. Create Russian culture centers in each of the major cities where the Diaspora is present. In many cases, these can be staffed by volunteers from the local communities and require only the cost of setting up and maintaining them. This will in turn increase tourism in Russia and make Russian foreign relations an easier thing. It is harder to sell Russia as a bogyman to people who are in love with her culture.

2. Establish close ties with Russian organizations established by the Diaspora.

3. Establish close links to the children. Israel is a prime example of how this is done and how it continues to pay huge dividends for decades after wards. Children are the best investment anyone can make it, over the long term. Each child in the Jewish Diaspora can, upon reaching his or her high school years, apply to travel on an expense paid trip to Israel for the summer. The Israelis treat these kids first rate, taking them to see their ancestral homeland, to various camps and in essence making them feel a bond of more then just distant blood or Biblical verse to the State of Israel. At the very minimal, this entails a new generation in foreign countries that will aid Israeli foreign policy and national needs. Many even travel to Israel to serve in her army.

Russia, with her vastly deeper culture, greater diversity and appeal and much deeper pockets, would benefit greatly from following the same course of action. It would endear a new generation of Russians abroad with a sense of loyalty to Russia

4. Assist the professionals. While no country can survive without the common working man, the farmer or the miner, it is not these men, in the modern world, that provide a nation with its technological and business savvy. Instead it is the professionals. However, even with all the loyalty that lies in many men to Russia, no young or middle aged professional can afford to bring himself or his family to any major Russian city without abandoning any and all prosperity and material comfort in a quest just to put a roof over his head. What to a Muscovite is a splendid salary, say $3,000 per month, is pittance wage to one who first after taxes has to still pay $2,000+ just for the monthly privilege of living in Russia.

To this end, the Russian government should start buying up apartments to use as a signing bonus of sorts to attract proper professionals to Russia. These can be done in the form of either a given apartment or a stipend for an apartment, the level of which would depend upon the personal wealth and salary of the individual. Obviously conditions should be set. The person must be of Russian or Soviet birth or of ancestry of the old empire. The person must prove that he is degreed, hire able and of sound mind and body. Alcoholics and drug addicts need not apply. Equally any applying who are married with less then 3 children should have the condition of becoming parents of at least 3 children within 5 years.

The benefits brought by these individuals will greatly out match any governmental cost of the apartments.

5. Lastly, all peoples in the Diaspora, who can prove birth within the Soviet Union and are presently living under a none CIS citizenship, should be given the right of accepting dual citizenship/passports. By allowing easier travel, more money will be generated back into the Russian society, economy and government, for a relatively minor bureaucratic exercise.

In conclusion.

In short, Russia is once more at a critical point in her history that can be harvested to her success, but only if Moscow realizes and acts upon it.